Whether remodeling your entire home or spicing up an old bedroom, a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for any space in the house during home renovation. This home improvement may come with great results; however, the strong, lingering smell of fresh paint is enough to make homeowners put down their paint brush and take up a different renovation task.
Between the unfavorable smell of paint and the health concerns that come from toxic paint fumes, it is every homeowner’s goal of figuring out how to get paint smells out of the house quickly and effectively. So how long do these bad paint smells typically stick around for?
Follow along to learn how long paint fumes last in the air and how best to get rid of paint smells throughout the home.
How Long Will It Take for Paint Smell To Go Away?
Anyone who has worked on a renovation project that involves painting is familiar with the strong odors associated with a fresh coat of paint. From the moment you open the can to long after you roll on a final coat, fresh paint tends to be the only thing you smell throughout your newly renovated space. Getting rid of paint odors can be a tricky task to tackle. A good rule to follow is waiting at least three days before moving back into a freshly painted room to allow filtration and the reduction of the initial toxic paint fumes. Even still, paint odors can linger in a room for up to 4 months as the paint fully cures. During this time, the dried paint’s chemical components release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air. These subsequent VOCs can become a nuisance to those that are particularly sensitive to odors and fumes, as they can cause headache, dizziness, nausea, and respiratory irritation. That is why indoor air quality is the top answer for tackling this stinky issue to get rid of paint smell fast.
Is The Smell of Paint Toxic?
Paint fumes are dangerous indoors and can be harmful to health even after paint has dried. Inhalation of wet paint can cause more severe side effects, however the VOCs that continue to release from dried paint can still initiated mild symptoms. Toxic paint fumes on walls and ceilings can stick around for anywhere from 14 to 24 weeks, depending on the amount of ventilation present in a room. Less ventilation keeps the bad smell of paint and its toxic fumes around longer. More ventilation through ceiling fans, open windows, air filtration, and air purifiers can get rid of the smell, as well as filter away the harmful VOCs that can linger even after the smell is gone – that’s a win-win!
How to Get Rid of Bad Paint Smell Through Ventilation
The last thing you want to deal with when moving into a newly renovated home is the lingering odors of paint and other construction. So, what does indoor air quality have to do with how to get paint smell out of your house? Frankly, it has everything to do with it! VOCs and odors are an invisible airborne side effect of paint. These irritating particles exist in the air, and without proper mitigation can last longer than expected and offer more chance for you to inhale them. Ventilation plays a key role in getting rid of paint smell and toxic VOCs quickly, rather than waiting weeks for these odors to dissipate on their own. By means of natural or mechanical ventilation, these harmful airborne contaminants are pushed out of an indoor space and replaced with fresh, clean air.
Ventilation can be achieved in many ways. A simple solution is to open a door or window to allow for outdoor air exchange. This is great to do while you are actively painting a room to minimize the overpowering smell of paint. The use of fans or window AC units is also a viable option for creating greater air exchange and ventilation. The optimal air ventilation and filtration can be achieved through portable air purifiers stationed in rooms or open areas where you just painted. These are great to use during a paint project as well as after to get rid of prolonged paint smells.
Paint Odor Eliminator for Newly Renovated Home
Not all portable air purifiers are created equal. Not only do you want an option that increases ventilation, but also captures VOCs and odors to make your newly painted home a safer, fresher space. The EnviroKlenz Air System utilizes a proprietary Air Cartridge and HEPA filtration to optimize airflow through an additional 3-5 air exchanges per hour, while also neutralizing VOCs, odors, and other toxic fumes through its patented earth mineral technology. Having an air purifier such as the Air System can work well as an odor eliminator during your next paint project, and these are a perfect long-term investment for new or renovating homeowners to use even after paint projects.
Carrying the right precautions before and after home renovations can remove the smell of paint in any room, so you can enjoy your newly completed project. Paint fumes can be a nuisance and a health hazard when not properly addressed, though with the right ventilation measures, you will be waving goodbye to bad paint odors faster than you did to that outdated wallpaper you ripped out upstairs!
Air System
Mobile Air System
✓ Patented earth mineral technology works to attack VOCs and break them down on a compound level
✓ No chemicals or masking agents
✓ Will not release any chemicals back into your environment
✓ Safer and faster at removing VOC’s than traditional carbon filters and PECO air purifiers
EnviroKlenz® Medical Disclaimer:
“Any information that is provided on this website is not for the use by any commercial or personal entity without expressed written consent of the blog author. The material and statements illustrated within this blog are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or medical conditions. Nor does the author in any way guarantee or validate the validity, totality, or efficacy of any claims and will therefore not be held responsible for the content of any claims. Always consult your medical physician for any specific medical advice or recommendations.”
